Paradise!

 Too Beautiful For Words!

 Leaving the big city of Lisbon and then finding yourself in paradise is truly an amazing experience.  These islands of the Azores are part of our mission!   I know...how lucky are we?!?  It is about a 2 1/2 hour flight but this was our second time here, conducting a self reliance training for the members in the other of the two branches here on the island of San Miguel.  The first time we were here it was in the remnants of a hurricane, but this time we got to see just what an amazing place this is!!

These beautiful lakes are actually in the center of Volcanoes, the island is basically a series of multiple volcanoes- the green against the black rock is breath taking.

The island is said to have more cows than people...here is a milk -run in a rainstorm

An ancient aqua duct made of stones

This is a swimming pool with natural heated water from the volcanic springs... thought to have health benefits, but we wouldn't know!

There are many bubbling hot volcanic pools..kind of like Yellowstone

 Of course this is the type of rainbow you would expect to see in paradise!!!

Fun With Fruit!

 These yummy fruits come mostly from the islands of Portugal...the Azores & Madeira.  Elder Anderton loved the tiny pineapples.

These two are not much to look at but are both delicious!!  The green one (Anone) tastes sort of like a 'banana & a pineapple' got married...yum!   The orange one (Nespara) is the size and texture of an apricot but has a very unique flavor.

Open Markets

 This is were you go for fresh produce & fish...right from the garden OR boat!!

Learning to Cook 'Portuguese Style'

Joanna teaching us how to make 'bachalou com natas'

This is a Relief Society activity on Portuguese cooking.

A Yummy orange custard dessert

And of Course.... the Dish Washers!!!

Boys will Be Boys!!

 We spend a lot of time in the office and hours and hours of time attending and conducting Self Reliance related meetings and seminars all over the country.  BUT when these three crazy guys relax a little they can have a good time together.  Elder Anderton, Elder Neiswender and Antonio Paulo.

This monument is a tribute to the singing Cabeleros who are famous in Portugal...These three are doing their best to imitate them ...complete with singing- wish you could hear them?!?

The Dance number didn't turn out so well!

They were setting up for a celebration in the city square and no one was around.  Elder Anderton thought it would be funny to go sit on the motorbike.  He was really surprised and embarrassed when the operator whom he didn't see turned the ride on and took him around a couple of times!

All he needed was some camo and a helmet!

Someone hand me a fork!

 

Karate Kid?

 

 

Making a new 'friend' at the mall... a basketball player around 7 ft!

 Torro, Torro!!

Serving a mission has been and IS a huge blessing in my life...serving a Self Reliance Mission has taught me that Heavenly Father loves all His children and wants each of us to be happy and become all that we can be...serving a Mission with my husband is true joy and the fact that he can make it fun at the same time is icing on the cake!

A Place of Worship?

We traveled to the interior of the country to attend a Self Reliance devotional and on the way home had to check out this pretty disturbing but interesting church.  It is now called the "Bones Chapel"  It was built in the 16th century and for some reason someone thought it was a good idea to finish off the interior entirely using bones from the nearby cemetery! I think is was originally meant to be a place of quiet worship and a peaceful place.....but it had just the opposite effect on me.  It is definitely a place you might want to see once but I would never want to go back!  Not sure if this was the best way to encourage people to go to church!!!